Ammunition



INVENTORS .Iaxi. 24, 1939. A. GJSCHURICHT El AL AMMUNITION Filed NOV.29, 1935 vi il/11471454971 ma m c E Hm M m T s A 1 W1 B L A PatentedJan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES armomrron Alfons G. Schuricht, Alton, andAlbert J. Bindrichs, East Alton, 11L, assignors to Western CartridgeCompany, East Alton, 111., a. corporation of Delaware ApplicationNovember 29, 1935, Serial No. 52,136

1:; Claims. (Cl. 102-15) This invention relates generally to themanufacture of shot shells and pmticularly to a novel base wad and theshot shell embodying the same as well as the process of making such basewads.

In the manufacture of shot. shells, as heretofore practiced, it hasbeencustomary to provide a paper tube, one end of which is closed by asuitable metallic head and on the interior of the metallic head a basewad is provided. Such base wad endsperform the function of .securing thepaper. tube inposition within the metallic 'head and holding the batterycup in position end of the shot shell against gas leakage. In accordancewith the usual practice such base wads have been formed in situ, that isto say, after a slug or cylinder of base wad material has been placed inposition in the shot shell the pressure .of a plunger is exerted uponthe slug or cylinder so as to conform the same and cause it to flow intothe flange of the head and around the battery cup so as to securely holdthese parts together. Ordinarily the shell is headed, that is to say,finally flanged and formed at the same-time the base wad is formed.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide ashot shell in which the base wad is largely preformed.

"Another object of this invention is to provide an improved base wadfor, shot shells and particularly one which hasbeen radially compressedand condensed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process of makingbase wads and shot shells wherein the resulting structure will be ofsuperior strength and more securely sealed against gas leakage than hasbeen heretofore possible.

A more specific object or this. invention is to provide a shot shellbase wad in which the wad'largely preformed before insertion into theshot shell tube but thereafter is finally formed so as to secure theparts together.

Other objects. will become apparent to those skilled in the art when thefollowing description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a base wad blank suitable for use inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure '2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the conforming elementsemployed in the first step ot the process of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a similar diagrammatic view showing. elemental apparatussuitable for use in the second step of the process of the presentinvention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a base wad preformedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is-a diagrammatic view illustrating a shot shell tube and basewad in section together with elemental apparatus for finally forming theFigure 6 is a sectional view of a shot shell head. section provided witha base wad formed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure '7 is a sectional view showing'the completed shot shell.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view showing'a further embodiment of apreformed base wad.

Figure 9 is a detail view of an overlay for use with the'base wad ofFigure 8. therein and to an extent, of sealing the headed'- Figure 10 isa detail view showing the associated relation of the base wad of Figure8 and the overlay of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing a shot shell having the assemblyof Figure 10 in posiformed, as used herein, is meant that the base wadprevious to insertion in the shot shell has been compressed andcondensed to the desired extent except for certain parts which are leftfree to be further condensed in situ in order to secure the parts of theshot shell together. The present invention contemplates that thepreformed base wad be so treated that it is condensed and compressedradially as well as axially so that before insertion into the shot shellthe base wad, as to some of its faces, is finally formed, and afterinsertion into the ,shot shell further deformation of the wad isaccomplished merely to secure the parts together. .In practice theradial compression may be accomplished in one or more stages as byforcing the blank through a series of tapered dies.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the preformedbase wad may be'provided with projecting parts int-he region adjacentthe other parts of the shot shell which it is desired to securetogether. In accordance with one embodiment such projections may be leftin the region of the shot shell head and battery cup so that upon axialcompression after being inserted in the shot shell tube the projectingparts fiow into the flange of the head and other lay and upon finalcompression be peened over so as to secure the overlay inposition.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, in Figure 1 there isillustrated a base wad blank I which, in the embodiment shown, is formedof convolutions of paper in accordance with the usual practice. As shownthe base wad blank I is in the form of a cylinder and in the conditionillustrated in Figure l is of slightly larger diameter than the shotshell in which it is to be employed Although in the embodimentillustrated the blank I is formed of convolutions of paper, it will beunderstood that it may be formed of other plastic material, as forinstance cellulose, wood fibre or bagasse.

In accordance with the present invention the blank I may be compressedboth axially and radially. This may be accomplished by forcing the blankthrough suitable reducing dies, such as 2, by means of a plunger 3 so asto reduce the diameter thereof, down to approximately the same diameteras the interior of the shot shell tube in which it is to be employed. Ifa modified conventional form of shot shell heading apparatus isemployed, the compressed blank I maybe discharged from reducing die 2into a carrier plate suitably mounted so as to carry the wads and othershell parts through the successive forming operations. Such a carrierplate may be provided with a series of openings, such as 4, to receivecompressed blanks from die Z-and carry them to the next succeedingoperation. After thus compressing and condensing the blank I it may besubjected to a further pressing operation in order to conform it to theextent desired. This may be accomplished, as shown in Figure 3, by theaction of cooperating plungers 5 and 6, one of which (in this case, thelatter) is so shaped as to form the desired chamber. In the apparatusillustrated in Figures 2 and 3 the plungers 3 and 5 are provided withtenons 1 arranged to pass into the central aperture of the base wadblank I and thus prevent closing of that aperture. The end of plunger 6may be provided with an opening to receive tenon I when the plungers aremoved together. It is apparent, therefore, that when the plungers 5 and6 are brought together with the previously condensed base wad blank Itherebetween, the same will be compressed and conformed to the shape ofthe plunger so as to produce a preformed base wad, such as thatillustrated in Figure 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the preformed base wad is providedat its outer end face with a suitably shapedpowder chamber 8corresponding in shape to the end of plunger 6, whereas on its inner endprojections which, in the embodiment illustrated are in the form ofannular lips 9 and 90, are left so as to be finally conformed within theshot shell head. In order to facilitate flowing of the wad material intothe flange of the metallic head and about the battery cup, lips 9 andmay be tapered. For instance, lip 9 may be tapered inwardly and lip 90outwardly.

In the condition illustrated in Figure 4, the preformed base wad isinserted into a shot shell tube I0 upon which is assembled a semi-formedmetallic head II carrying-a battery cup I2. After such assembly pressureis exerted upon the interior of the shot shell tube so as to force thepreformed base wad down into the head and around the battery cup I2.This may be accomplished by a suitable plunger such as I3. At the sametime by the action of the conventional bunter the head may be finallyflanged. During this operation it will be understood that the shot shelltube I9 and the head I I are supported so as to prevent rupture. 1

The pressure exerted by the plunger I3 causes projections 9 to flow intothe flange'of head II and around battery cup I2 so as to anchor theseparts together and to produce a strong structure, as shown in Figure 6,where it will be observed that the base wad has been so compressed thatprojections 9 and 90 have practically flowed to- In accordance with anillustrative embodiment the base wad may be formed to the desired shape,as for instance that illustrated in Figure 8, either within or withoutthe shell so as to have a projection at one face. For example, a blankmay be condensed, as hereinbefore described, and the wad preformed so asto provide -a body portion I8 and a projecting portion I9 on the endface thereof which is to be adjacent the propellant charge. Forfacilitating the flowing of the base wad material into the flange ofmetallic head the flank may also be formed with an annular lip 25,tapered on the inside as shown at 25 so that upon compression in theshell the lip will turn out into the flange and secure the partstogether. It will be understood, however, that the plastic overlay may,according to this invention, be secured to a base wad which has beenformed by molding, or preformed by axial compression only, or formed insitu in the shell so as to leave a projection on the outer face forconnection with th overlay.

Over the projection, such as I9, may be placed an overlay disc 20 Theoverlay disc 20 may be formed of suitable plastic material, such asheavy paper, and provided with a central aperture, such as ZI, formed tofit over projection I9. This assembly may then be forced through asuitable die in order to cup the plastic overlay and provide flanges 22thereon. It maybe pointed out, however, that this operation may beaccomplished as the base wad is moving into a shell tube as by theprovision of a suitable die above the mouth of the shell into which theassembly is being moved or by cupping the disc 20 separately. In theoperation of thus cupping the plastic overlay a suitable plunger isemployed, the diameter of which is sufficiently less than the interiordiameter of the shot shell tube that the edges of the overlay disc 20may be accommodated but the plunger may advantageously be of as great adiameter as possible in order to cause the flanges 22 to snugly engagethe interior walls of the shot shell tube, as shown in Figure 11.

With the base wad and overlay thus inserted in the shot shell tube theshell may be finally headed and at the same time the projection I9 maybe peened over on the outside of overlay 20, as shown at 23, in order tosecurely hold the overlay in position within the tube. In thelastmentioned heading operation it will, of course, be understood thatsufficient axial compression is applied to the structure that the basewad is forced into close engagement with the interior of the head andaround the battery cup, and the lip 24 is turned out into the dense ofthe metal head so as to securelyancher all these parts together with theoverlay.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides a preformed base wad and a. shot shell employing thesame in which a structure of superior strength in the head region isaccomplished. By thus preforming the base wad the wad may be condensedaxially so as to substantially reduce the liability of gas leakagethrough the head without, at the same time, rendering the'shot shelltube and head liable to rupture because of excessive pressure appliedthereon. Thus while in the manufacture of shot shells in accordance withthe conventional practice there is a practical limit to the pressurewhich may be applied when the base wad is conformed in situ. due to theliability of the head and tube to rupture, this is overcome bysubjecting the wad to radial compression without the shell. Theprovision of the plastic overlay on the other hand, constitutes afurther means for overcoming the liability of gas leakage through thewad and when used in conjunction with a preformed base wad, such as thatdescribed hereinbefore, the resultant shot shell may be made sumcientlystrong by applying a high degree of pressure during the preformingoperation that it is unnecessary to employ the usual steel reenforcewithin the head.

From the foregoing description it will be ap' parent that manymodifications of the'base wad, shot shell and process hereinbeforedescribed will present themselves to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention. It is to be understood,therefore, that the foregoing description of two embodiments and thedrawing in support of the same are merely illustrative of the processand the adaptability thereof in the conventional process of maldng,

1. In the art of making shot shells the process comprising, forming andcondensing a base wad approximately to shape but with a projection onthe end face, placing an overlay on said wad with said projectionextending through a hole in said overlay, inserting the overlay and wadin a shell tube, and compressing the assembly to peen the projectionover on the outer side of the overlay.

2. In the art of making shot shells the process comprising, forming andcondensing a base .wad approximately to shape but with a projection onthe outer end face, providing a fiat plastic disc of substantiallylarger diameter than the tube of the shell and having a central hole,placing the disc over the preformed base wad with said pro- ,iectionextending through the hole, inserting the assembly in a shot shell tubewith the disc cupped to form flanges extending along the walls of thetube, and applying pressure to the assembly interiorly of the flanges toseat the wad and disc in the shell.

3. A shot shell having a base wad, and an overlay secured to andinterlocked with the base wad.

4. A shot shell having a base wad, and an overlay for the base wad, saidbase wad having a projection extending through a hole in said overlay.

5.-A shot shell having a base wad, and anoverlay for the base wad, saidbase wad having a projection extendingthrough a hole in said v overlayand peened thereover.

6. In the art of making a shot shell, having a base provided with a rimand an inwardly projecting primer cup therein, the process comprising,preforming a base wad blank composed of convolutions of papersurrounding a perforation, by' condensing the blank while sustainedexternally' to fit the base and internally to fit the cup, inserting thepreformed blank into the baseandover the cup and securing the insertedblank 'in the base.

7. In the art of making a shot shell having a base provided with a rimand an inwardly proiecting primer cup, the process comprising,preforming a base wad blank to provide a distinct circumferential flangeprojecting from its base end, inserting the preformed blank into thebase over the cup and interlocking the flange, of the blank with the rimof the base.

8. In the art of making a shot shell, having a base provided with a rimand an inwardly projecting primer cup therein, the process comprising,preforming a base wad blank composed of convolutions of papersurrounding a perforation to provide a distinct circumferential flangeprojecting from its base end, inserting the preformed blank into thebase over the cup and interlocking the'flange of the blank with the rimof the base.

9. In a shot shell having a base provided with a rim and an inwardlyprojecting primer cup therein, a preformed base wad composed ofconvolutions of paper surrounding a perforation and having a distinctcircumferential flange projecting from its base end, said wad beingcondensed and sized externally to fit the base and internally to fit thecup, and said flange being adapted to interlock with the rim of thebase.

10. In a shot shell having a base and an inwardly projecting primer cuptherein, a preformed base wad composed of convolutions of papersurrounding a perforation and condensed and sized externally to fitthebase and internally to fit the cup.

11. A shot shell having a base and an inwardly projecting cup therein, apreformed base wad composed of convolutions of paper surrounding aperforation and having a distinct circumferential flange projecting fromits base end, said base wad being condensed and sized externally to fitthe base and internally to flt'the cup.

12. In the art of making a shot shell having a base wad, the processcomprising, inserting an overlay into the shell and onto the base wadand operating on the overlay to interlock it with the

